Free Republic

According to a report issued by the Treasury Inspector General for Tax Administration (TIGTA), the IRS allowed 960 out of 1,580 employees—or 61 percent—who willfully cheated on their taxes to continue working there after the misconduct was discovered. Most employees received less penalties such as counseling, reprimands, or suspensions. […] The report further stated that it could discern no consistent pattern to explain why certain employees had their penalties mitigated, while some were repeat offenders. …

It’s past time we abolished the IRS and tried something else. This agency has been nothing but trouble since its inception. We’ve seen how it can be used to bully and harass the opponents of those in power. It actively went after conservative groups for their political participation in an attempt by the Obama administration to rig the election. It did so under tremendous political pressure from Obama and Democrats in Congress who were alarmed by conservative groups’ political spending after Citizens United. It’s ironic that the agency which is supposed to keep a watchful eye on us is often...

WASHINGTON—Mounting scandals at the Internal Revenue Service are jeopardizing critical funding for the agency as it gears up to play a big role in President Barack Obama's health care law. Obama sought a significant budget increase for the IRS for next year, when the agency will start doling out subsidies to help people buy health insurance on state-based exchanges. Congressional Republicans, however, see management problems at the IRS as an opportunity to limit the agency's funding just as it is trying to put in place the massive new law. Republicans have been fighting the health care law ever since Democrats...